Project Grant 16VSWKS002

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST KANSAS (DSNWK) HAS SERVED PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD) FOR OVER 50 YEARS. DSNWK SERVES THE COMMUNITIES IN 18 RURAL COUNTIES IN RURAL NORTHWEST KANSAS OVER AN AREA OF 21,000 SQUARE MILES. DSNWK HAS PARTNERED WITH THE KANSAS FOOD BANK AND FEEDING AMERICA PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS. OVER 87% PERCENT OF OUR INDIVIDUALS SERVED AND 39% OF STAFF FALL INTO THE LOW INCOME CATEGORY. DSNWK HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED FOOD ASSISTANCE EFFORTS TO BOTH GROUPS. FOOD BANK AND FEEDING AMERICA PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED AND PROVIDES FOOD FOR ELLIS CO. FOOD BANK SITE WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED BY ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER IN NEED EVERY OTHER SATURDAY AND THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE BELOW POVERTY. THESE EFFORTS MUST BE EXPANDED AND A DIETARY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE ADDED. THESE QUALITY OF LIVING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN CORE COMPONENTS IN OUR SERVICE THROUGHOUT ALL 18 COUNTIES SERVED. DSNWK ALSO INITIATED AN EFFORT TO FUND RAISE THROUGH GRANTS FROM FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS AND WILL REQUIRE VISTA SUPPORT TO EXPAND THIS INITIATIVE IN ORDER TO RAISE FUNDS TO EFFECTIVELY CONTINUE THE MISSION OF SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN FEW INCREASES IN FUNDING FROM KANSAS SINCE 2008 AND LACK OF FUNDS IS CAUSING CONSOLIDATION AND CLOSING OF SERVICES. GRANT AND FUND SEARCHING IS NECESSARY TO FIND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THOSE SERVED AS WELL AS INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND NEEDED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS THEIR SAFETY. DSNWK WILL SEEK A VISTA VOLUNTEER FOR SOFTWARE SUPPORT. ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS ON MEDICAID/KANCARE TO ENSURE THAT HEALTH AND MEDICAL INFORMATION IS CAPTURED IS VITAL TO THE WELLBEING OF THOSE SERVED. HAVING THE ABILITY TO LOG AND TRACK MEDICAL HISTORY WILL REQUIRE VISTA SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND MAINTAIN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THOSE SERVED ON MEDICAID/KANCARE. DSNWK HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 50 YEARS PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS ON THE I/DD HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED WAIVER FOR THOSE THAT QUALIFY BASED ON THEIR INCOME. MANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTIES SERVED ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT DSNWK IS AND WHAT THE MISSION IS. VISTA SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO INCREASE THE MARKETING & EVENTS EFFORT TO HELP WITH ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IN COMMUNITIES. THIS WOULD ALSO ASSIST WITH COLLABORATING WITH EVENTS THAT ALREADY HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITIES TO HELP IN FINDING ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE AREAS AS WELL AS VISTA MEMBERS TO SHARE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. CURRICULUM SUPPORT VISTA MEMBER HAS ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT THAT MATCH TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S SKILL AND CAPACITY. THERE ARE RECOMMENDATION PROCESSES FOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE EXPANDED UPON TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT WHICH WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF EMPLOYMENT AND INCREASE THE INCOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN POVERTY UNDER MEDICAID. THIS AREA IS EXPANDING TO HELP REACH MORE INDIVIDUALS BEING SERVED IN THE DSNWK "COLLEGE FOR LIVING" DAY SERVICE AREA TO ADD TO THEIR CURRICULUM TO MEET INDIVIDUAL SKILLS. THERE ARE TWO OTHER NON-PROFITS, LEARNING CROSS PRESCHOOL & UNITED WAY OF ELLIS CO., THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM A YEAR TERM VISTA. LEARNING CROSS PRESCHOOL IS A UNIQUE SCHOOL INSIDE OF A NURSING AND ASSISTED LIVING HOME. THIS MEMBER WILL PROVIDE RESEARCH THAT HAS WORKED BEST TO CONNECT AN OLDER POPULATION WITH YOUNG CHILDREN THAT PROVIDES A HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS PROVIDING MEANING FOR THOSE IN THE NURSING HOME FACILITY. UNITED WAY OF ELLIS CO. WILL BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IN IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS, PARTICIPATING IN FUNDRAISING EVENTS, IDENTIFYING ENLISTING VOLUNTEERS, AND ASSISTING IN COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS. SEVEN TOTAL VISTA VOLUNTEERS ARE REQUESTED TO ASSIST IN EACH OF THE AREAS. ESTABLISHING, EXPANDING, AND MAINTA